XN000022-1988-07-20 — Page 56

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1988

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DISPUTE DELAYS WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR MA WAN

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A DISPUTE BETWEEN THE ENGINEER AND THE CONTRACTOR OVER BUILDING OF A 1.5 KILOMETRE SUBMARINE MAIN FROM SHAM TSENG TO MA WAN IS THE REASON FOR THE DELAY IN THE COMPLETION OF A WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR MA WAN RESIDENTS.

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON ROBIN SAUNDERS, EXPLAINED THIS IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON RICHARD LAI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

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MR SAUNDERS SAID ALTHOUGH THE DISPUTE WOULD HAVE REFERRED TO ARBITRATION, IT HAD BEEN DECIDED THAT THE PROJECT SHOULD BE COMPLETED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

"TO THAT END FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CONTRACTOR HAVE JUST BEEN COMPLETED AND A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED ON JUNE 30, 1988, ** HE SAID.

"WORK ON SITE WILL RE-COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MOBILISATION OF A SPECIAL BARGE FOR CONSTRUCTING THE ROCK BEDDING AND FOR MAINLAYING.

**IT IS EXPECTED THAT LAYING OF THE SUBMARINE MAIN WILL BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER 1988 AT WHICH TIME WATER SUPPLY WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE RESIDENTS OF MA WAN ISLAND.

IN THE INTERIM, MR SAUNDERS SAID THE WATER SUPPLIES WAS ARRANGING TO INSTALL SOME TEMPORARY STANDPIPES TO WATER IN THE RESERVOIR TO BE USED.

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"HOWEVER, THIS WILL ONLY BE OF LIMITED ASSISTANCE. ANSWER LIES IN THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT DOING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THE TIMELY COMPLETION OF THE ENTIRE PROJECT BY DECEMBER 1988, WHEN THE PROBLEM WILL BE SOLVED ONCE AND FOR ALL.'

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THE MA WAN WATER SUPPLY PROJECT COMPRISES A SUPPLY MAIN FROM YAU KOM TAU TO MA WAN, CONSISTING OF FIVE KILOMETRES OF LAND MAIN ALONG CASTLE PEAK ROAD FROM YAU KOM TAU TO SHAM TSENG, AND KILOMETRES OF SUBMARINE MAIN FROM SHAM TSENG TO MA WAN; AND A SERVICE RESERVOIR AND DISTRIBUTION MAINS ON MA WAN 13LAND,

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